VerticalAI: The Next Generation of AI Agents
Overview
VerticalAI ($VERTAI) is a groundbreaking platform that simplifies the creation, training, and deployment of AI models. By offering a no-code solution, it allows individuals and businesses, even those with limited technical expertise, to create industry-specific (vertical) AI models. This approach addresses the limitations of general-purpose (horizontal) AI models like GPT, which, while versatile, often lack the depth required for specialised tasks.
VerticalAI positions itself as a key player in an emerging segment of AI, where tailored solutions are designed to maximise ROI and deliver deeper domain-specific insights. Forbes highlighted this need for vertical AI solutions in a 2023 article: Vertical AI: The Next Revolution in Generative AI.
Team
VerticalAI’s leadership brings technical expertise and strategic vision:
- Manouk (Mark) Termaaten: Founder & CEO, with hands-on experience in AI development from his time as an AI Specialist at HD Hoep.
- Friso Wesseling: COO, specialising in blockchain’s role in decentralised deployment and its compliance with GDPR.
The team has demonstrated strong execution capabilities thus far. If they continue on this trajectory, VerticalAI could emerge as a leader in AI innovation and blockchain integration.
Security
While VerticalAI has taken significant steps toward security, there are areas for improvement:
- Audits: A SolidProof audit awarded a TrustNet security score of 83.5/100, which is solid but not flawless.
- Automated Scanners: Conflicting results from QuickIntel (clean report) and SolidityScan (minor issues) highlight a need for deeper manual validation.
- KYC Certification: The founders underwent KYC verification via SolidProof.
- Bug Bounty: No active bug bounty program currently exists. Adding this would incentivise proactive identification of vulnerabilities. I recommended this to the team who liked the idea, so anticipate progress on this front in the future.
The team has laid a secure foundation, but enhancements such as a bug bounty program could further bolster trust and security.
Roadmap
The roadmap reflects a well-structured and feasible development plan, ensuring continuous progress. I’ve highlighted some key targets below:
- Q1 2025: Launch of raffle staking and BETA release of the No-Code Studio.
- Q2 2025: Official launch of the No-Code Studio.
- Q3 2025: Full platform operability.
The roadmap is a standout feature, with clear milestones that balance technical development and business growth.
Tokenomics
VerticalAI’s tokenomics are both a strength and a potential short-term vulnerability:
- Total Supply: 100 million $VERTAI.
Allocation:
- 50% Exchange Liquidity: Locked for 12 months.
- 20% Seed Funding: 40% unlocked at TGE, fully vested by January 2025.
- 15% Marketing: 25% unlocked at TGE, with 6-month linear vesting.
- 10% R&D: 6-month linear vesting.
- 5% Team: 3-month cliff, 12-month linear vesting.
Strengths:
- A significant allocation to exchange liquidity ensures market stability.
- Controlled marketing and R&D budgets support both adoption and innovation.
Concerns:
- Seed investors purchased at a $500k FDV (~$0.0049 per token), creating a 165x ROI potential, which could lead to short-term sell pressure.
Revenue Model
VerticalAI employs a multi-faceted revenue model:
- Free Model Creation: Users can train AI models at no cost.
- Subscription Tiers: Deployment requires a subscription fee, with higher tiers reducing revenue-sharing fees from 15% to 5%.
- Credit Packages: Planned feature to ensure seamless service continuity.
This structure incentivises both user adoption and token utility, generating consistent demand for $VERTAI.
Investment Outlook
VerticalAI presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity:
- Short-Term Risk: The vesting schedule for seed investors introduces the possibility of significant sell-offs.
- Long-Term Potential: With its innovative approach and strong revenue model, VerticalAI has significant growth potential as the platform gains traction.
Conclusion
VerticalAI addresses a critical gap in the AI market by enabling industry-specific applications through an accessible, no-code platform. While its tokenomics present short-term challenges, the project’s innovative revenue model, clear roadmap, and emerging utility position it as a promising investment for those with a high-risk appetite.
Investors should consider timing their entry to mitigate the impact of early sell pressure, potentially reaping substantial rewards as VerticalAI matures and establishes itself as a key player in the vertical AI space.
